Water left in the bottom of the tub after a cycle means the dishwasher is not draining. It is one of the most common dishwasher faults, and often one of the simplest to resolve.
Why your dishwasher will not drain
- Clogged sump or filter — food debris blocks the drain filter at the bottom of the tub.
- Blocked drain hose or air gap — a kinked hose or clogged air gap stops the water leaving.
- Garbage-disposal knockout plug — on a newly installed disposal, a plug left in place blocks the dishwasher drain.
- Failed drain pump or stuck check valve — the pump no longer moves water, or the valve sticks shut.
What you can safely check first
- Remove the bottom rack and clean the filter/sump at the base of the tub.
- Run the garbage disposal — a full disposal or a left-in knockout plug will back water up into the dishwasher.
- Check the drain hose under the sink for kinks.
When to call a technician
If the filter and hose are clear, the fault is usually the drain pump or check valve. Our dishwasher repair technicians diagnose and replace the genuine part so it drains completely again.
Other dishwasher problems
Dishwasher Not Draining — FAQs
Why is there water in the bottom of my dishwasher?
It is not draining — most often a clogged filter/sump, a kinked drain hose, a full garbage disposal, or a failed drain pump.
I just installed a disposal and now my dishwasher won't drain.
The disposal's drain knockout plug was likely left in place, which blocks the dishwasher drain line. It needs to be removed — a quick fix.